Zolqadr, Pezeshkian, and Mohsen Rezaei: A Test of Unity and Trust

By: Dr. Mohammad Amin Bagheri Kani

What appears certain so far is the removal of Mohammad Bagher Zolqadr from his role as the Supreme Leader’s representative on the Supreme National Security Council, and the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei as his successor.

The position of Secretary of the Council without representing the Supreme Leader would amount to nothing more than an administrative role, leaving the Secretary without the political weight or authority needed to exert influence.

In other words, he would be the secretary of a meeting in which he is not a member and has no right to express an opinion. “It appears that Zolqadr resigned for precisely this reason, but Pezeshkian did not accept his resignation.” It should be noted that the appointment of the Council’s Secretary is, by nature, within the authority of the President. There are also other points, two of which I will address:

1️⃣ : The change in the Supreme Leader’s representative on the Supreme National Security Council following the signing of the understanding is undoubtedly the inevitable result of the representative’s failure to align with the Supreme Leader’s principled position on the country’s most important national-security issue—namely, Zolqadr’s vote in favor of the agreement with the United States.

This demonstrates that, contrary to numerous claims and justifications, the Supreme Leader’s position was completely clear to his representative, the Council’s Secretary, and the other members before the understanding was signed, yet they proceeded against it while fully aware of that position.

This is an important indication that cannot be elaborated upon here in order to preserve the strategic principle of unity. Otherwise, such a significant change would not have occurred under these sensitive circumstances unless it resulted from a grave error. And if anyone rejects this interpretation, they would be forced to conclude that it was the Supreme Leadership itself that departed from the strategic principle of unity!

2️⃣ : Strengthening public confidence in government officials is one of the most prominent demands expressed by the Supreme Leader in his recent messages. Naturally, such confidence is linked to the degree of confidence the Supreme Leadership itself places in those officials.

“When the Supreme Leadership loses confidence in a senior official and removes him from office, the public cannot similarly be expected to maintain confidence in that person without justification or explanation.”

For the sake of preserving unity and public confidence in government officials, it would be better for the Speaker of Parliament to ask the President to make a decisive decision on this matter as soon as possible.

And a final word to those comrades who continually—and rightly—emphasize the importance of unity in all matters: Dear brothers, go into the field and demand that officials, as the first line of defense for unity, preserve and protect it.

Note:

The work of our dear brother, Brigadier General Bagher Zolqadr, at the Supreme National Security Council has effectively come to an end after he received a letter from one of the officials, and the appointment of Major General Mohsen Rezaei has become inevitable.

As for Pezeshkian’s statements last night/the night before that he had asked Zolqadr to continue working with full strength, these statements exceed his authority and official position.

It appears that such positions are being taken under the direction of the security team close to him, with the aim of preventing the Supreme National Security Council from being given genuine weight, particularly given the continuing vacuum following the martyrdom of Dr. Larijani and the ongoing attempts to seize power and impose a surrender document on the system.

But none of this will be of any use; the matter has already been settled and the decision has been made.